By Lynn Burkhead
Special to BassFan

For many anglers, simply getting to fish in the Bassmaster Classic would be the accomplishment of a lifetime. Not so for Andrew Upshaw, the 25-year old Stephen F. Austin University graduate who will soon become the first ever College B.A.S.S. qualifier to compete in fishing's marquee event.

Pardon the pun, but Upshaw believes that he's got bigger fish to fry than simply showing up.

"I'm trying to win the Bassmaster Classic," he said. "I'm not going there focused on getting a Top 25. I want to win it.



"Now don't get me wrong – I'd be extremely happy with a Top 10 finish, obviously. But I'm looking for those five big bites a day because I'm looking for the win."

Don't bet against the Hemphill, Texas resident. He's been on an incredible hot streak in recent months including a national title with fellow SFA angler Ryan Watkins last summer at the 2011 College B.A.S.S. National Championship on Arkansas' Beaverfork Lake.

The following day, Upshaw outlasted Watkins in a one-on-one duel for the Classic berth, grabbing the invite to the Red River with last-minute catches that gave him the win by less than a single pound.

"I'm extremely excited about making the Classic," said Upshaw. "I have always dreamed about this. I just never thought it would happen this soon."

An Honored Position

Upshaw is particularly pleased that he got his Classic berth via the collegiate invite.

"It's a huge honor for me to be able to represent all of the college anglers across the country, just awesome," said Upshaw, who recently signed on to the Lew's and Strike Pro pro staffs. "It's a great honor for me, for my family, and for Stephen F. Austin."

So will Upshaw be even a little bit nervous as he launches his boat against the likes of former Classic champs Kevin VanDam, Denny Brauer Alton Jones and Mike Iaconelli?

"You know, not really," he said. "I've fished in the Opens for a while and I've fished against Ike and a lot of (anglers) that will be in the Classic.

"They'll always be my idols, I guess, but on that day they'll be my competitors. So no, I'm not going to be intimidated. I'm going to go out and do my best and try to win the tournament.

"I'll respect them, of course," he added, "but they don't intimidate me by who they are."

Been There Before

If Upshaw sounds confident, he is. And that's due in part to his familiarity with the Red River.

"I've been there a lot of times, so many that I can't even really count," he said. "I live about an hour away and I've fished several tournaments out there. I've always done extremely well there in tournaments. And the river fishing there, it fits my style really well."

What style is that?

"I'd say I'm extremely versatile," said Upshaw, who learned to fish on Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend reservoirs with his dad and angling legend Tommy Martin, among others.

"I'm happy fishing in 6 inches or in 60 feet of water," he laughed. "I'd like to think that one of my biggest strengths going into the Classic is dialing into a pattern, being able to stay with it, and to make fast adjustments."

With jigs, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits all figuring to play a sizable role in his efforts at the Red, Upshaw thinks big bass will rule each day at the weigh-in scales.

"Honestly, I think there will be some giant weights. I've been watching the (extended) weather forecasts extremely close. And if it's going to get warmer and warmer with lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s, then I think it's going to be like a slugfest."

Big is Relative

Upshaw, who'll compete in the FLW Tour Majors this year along with the Bassmaster Northern Opens, once caught a career-best 12-pounder during a February tournament at Toledo Bend. His sights won't be set quite so high at the Red this week.

"A big one right now would be a 5- or 6-pounder," he said. "I would be content with five 3- to 4-pounders a day. I'm really driving towards that kind of limit."

While he is confident of his gameplan, he also knows that few things are more fickle than a river system in late winter.

"That river can change overnight, really, that river can change in an hour," he said. "And really, nobody is going to know (exactly) what to do until we get out there the week of the tournament.

"You might figure out a plan A in practice, but out there in the tournament, maybe it will be Plan B that is all that works for you. Or maybe even plan C. Truthfully, there are not many tournaments where every single thing goes as planned."

Which is why he's been soaking up advice from those who understand the grind and the pressure of the Classic.

"I've talked to Mark Zona about it and he gave me a lot of great advice," said Upshaw. "And Tommy Martin gave me some great advice, too. A lot of guys that have been there before and understand the event, the media obligations, etc., have given me some tips on what to do and what not to do.

"One thing that I understand for sure is that I need to sleep a lot. Anytime I get a chance to sleep, I'm going to take it. That means don't go out and eat at night and stuff like that."

To help him stay focused and encouraged, he won't have to look far.

"My family and a ton of friends will be there to support me," said Upshaw, whose entourage will include his 29-year old brother Ryan, an Iraq War veteran. "I'm extremely blessed – there will be a ton of people showing up for me."

Hopefully they'll be cheering him on to a remarkable win.

"I think it would be great for the sport. I mean, come on, a college guy who isn't known? I bet three-quarters or more of the field doesn't know who I am.

"If I were to win, that would increase the spotlight on college fishermen. It would help the sport tremendously, not just for me, but for everyone else, too."